PANTHER PROWL: Record books rewritten; basketball approaching

I was a little worried about the South Alabama game this season based on the game one year ago in Mobile and the fact that South Alabama had only lost two games in their two and a half seasons. Both of South Alabama’s losses have been this year to FBS schools, Kent State and N.C. State. Yes, they’ve approached a different scheduling strategy as they’ve opted to build with a less-strenuous schedule than GSU, and they are headed straight to the Sunbelt Conference.

I was worried because Georgia State has been inconsistent for most of this season, which is why they were 1-5 heading into this game. But the game Saturday was one of the best I’ve seen in the Panthers short existence. Kelton Hill got the start at quarterback and played the entire game, leading Georgia State to a 27-20 overtime win over the Jaguars.

It was a record-setting afternoon as running back Donald Russell, a transfer from Kentucky, had the first 100-yard rushing game in school history with 136 yards on 20 attempts. His seven-yard touchdown run in overtime was his eighth of the season, including at least one in every game he has played. “I’m just happy to get the win,” Russell said. “We’ve had a hard time finishing. But we showed today that we can finish and come out with the victory.”

Albert Wilson, who set a school record with 175 yards receiving on five catches, was on the receiving end of two Kelton Hill touchdown passes of 78 and 64 yards. Hill was 12 of 15 passing for 209 yards. Linebacker Mark Hogan sealed the win with an interception of Jaguars QB C.J. Bennett in the second overtime.

“There have been several times when I could honestly say I’ve never been more proud of a group of men,” said head coach Bill Curry. “It would have been very easy to pack it in these last few weeks.” Georgia State’s next game is October 29 when they travel to Texas to face the University of Texas-San Antonio. Kick-off at 1:30 p.m. ET (Listen on WCFO-AM 1160 and WMLB-AM 1690)

Georgia State basketball opens the regular season game on November 12 against Washington in the first game of the World Vision Classic in Seattle. (WRAS-FM, 88.5)